Horses have traditionally been assigned to two different species, Equus
caballus and E. przewalskii, but recent authors include
przewalskii in caballus. As domestic horses are so diverse,
only the wild form is discussed here.

.The light tan to reddish brown coat (also known
as dun or bay) fades to white on the undersides. The coat is short
in summer, growing longer and woolier and becoming lighter in the colder
months. The lower legs are dark brown or black. On the top of
the neck is a stiff, dark brown mane which is permanently erect. The
stocky body is supported by short, slender legs, each terminating in a single
hoof. The head is relatively large, and is generally darker than the
rest of the body. The ears are small, and the muzzle is white.

Ontogeny and Reproduction

Gestation Period: 340 days. Young per Birth: 1 Weaning: At 6-8 months, although the young may remain with their
mother for upwards of two years. SexualMaturity: 2 years. Life span: About 20 years.

Young are usually born in April, May, and June.

Ecology and Behavior

Due to its extinct-in-the-wild status, little recent data is available on
Przewalski's wild horse. In the wild, this horse is (was?) extremely
wary, constantly alert for wolves and man. They can be quite aggressive,
and are able to defend themselves with their sharp teeth and hooves. The
dominant stallion in a herd is responsible for the herd's protection and
coordinating daily movements, and holds his position for several years. It
is rare to find a herd led by a male less than 6 years of age.

Family group: Breeding bands of 15-20 females and young led by an
adult male, and small bachelor herds. Diet: Grasses. Main Predators: Wolf.

Distribution

Formerly grassland and steppe in Mongolia.

Conservation Status

Przewalski's horse was previously extinct in the wild, but in the past decade
several dozen animals have been reintroduced to protected areas in the steppes
of Mongolia. Nevertheless, it is classified as extinct in the wild
by the IUCN (1996).

Remarks

While several wild subspecies survived in the past - including the
tarpan (E. c. gmelini), believed to be the ancestor of the domestic
horse - only one species of wild horse remains today: Przewalski's wild horse.
Ironically, although called a "wild" horse, the Przewalski's wild horse
or takhi has been extinct in the wild for several decades, only surviving
through captive breeding.

General N.M. Przewalski (1839-1888) [pronounced "shuh-VOLL-ski"] was
a Russian explorer and naturalist who made several trips to Central Asia,
collecting birds and mammals. Equus (Latin) a horse.
Caballus (Latin) a pack-horse, a nag.